PBS News Hour Full Episode: January 28, 2026 - Election Probe, Immigration Tensions, and American Identity

FBI Raids Georgia Elections Office Amid 2020 Election Probe

• FBI agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Fulton County, Georgia elections office, seeking records related to the 2020 election, including physical ballots and voter rolls.
• This action is seen as a significant escalation of President Trump's unfounded claims about the 2020 election results, particularly in Georgia.
• Election attorneys note that Fulton County ballots have been counted multiple times, including by hand, making new discoveries unlikely.
• The raid occurs as the Trump administration has been requesting voter information from states and as the nation approaches another election year.

Immigration Fuels Tensions and Shutdown Threats

• Political tensions are high with an attack on a Minnesota Democrat at a town hall and Congress facing a potential government shutdown over immigration issues.
• The FBI raid in Georgia and a surge in federal immigration agents in states like Minnesota are viewed by some as attempts to intimidate election officials.
• A U.S. cardinal has called for the defunding of ICE, criticizing its enforcement tactics and advocating for the human dignity of all individuals, regardless of legal status.
• Detainees at a Texas ICE family detention center protested conditions, leading to the facility being placed on lockdown, which attorneys describe as a reaction to free speech.

Debates on Election Integrity and Security

• Secretaries of State from Maine and Kentucky discussed concerns about the Department of Justice seeking voter rolls and the challenges of election administration.
• They highlighted the importance of protecting sensitive personal data while complying with legal requests, noting the lack of clear federal guidance.
• Both secretaries emphasized efforts to reassure the public about election security through audits, recounts, and high voter turnout.
• Operational challenges include recruiting poll workers and finding secure locations for voting, exacerbated by fears stemming from misinformation and threats.

Evolving American Identity and Historical Reflections

• A segment explored George Washington's vision for American identity, tracing its evolution from the nation's founding.
• Historians discussed how the concept of being an American has changed since the Revolution, acknowledging that there has never been a single, definitive answer.
• Washington's own evolution on the issue of slavery and his warnings against partisanship and foreign entanglements in his farewell address are examined as prescient for today's divided nation.
• The series "America at a Crossroads" will continue to explore what it means to be American in the current era.

Challenger Disaster and NASA's Loss of Innocence

• The 40th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle explosion was commemorated, recalling how the loss of Christa McAuliffe and six other astronauts deeply affected the nation.
• The event, broadcast live, marked a profound shock and a loss of innocence for NASA in the public's perception.
• The tragedy led to changes in NASA's approach to safety and public communication, impacting the space program for decades.